EDWARDSVILLE – Nicolette Towlen (Ewing, NJ/Ewing) posted a two-goal game to lead the Wilkes University women's soccer to 3-2 victory over visiting Marywood University on Saturday afternoon at Schmidt Stadium.

The Colonels are now 1-1-0 after earning their first win of the season and head coach John McNichol's first win on the sidelines.

​​​​​​​Marywood opened the scoring in the 15^th minute when the Pacers played a free kick from the top of the 18 that was one timed into the top right corner. Marywood extended its lead shortly after, bending a corner kick that went untouched around the defense and off the far post into the net in the 19^th minute.

Wilkes cut the deficit just 19 seconds later when Nicolette Towlen (Ewing, NJ/Ewing) hit a laser from twenty yards out off the post and past the Pacers keeper.

The Colonels tied the score in the 39^th minute when Emily Bidelspach (Myerstown, PA/ELCO) raced to a through ball that lead to a breakaway, juking Marywood's keeper around the 20 yard line and leading to an easy tap in for her first career score.

Wilkes had a chance to pull ahead in the 43^rd minute when Towlen raced right through the heart of the Pacers defense for a one-on-zero chance that forced Marywood's keeper to make a save as she dove forward, leading to a large rebound and a chance for Emily Egan (West Long Brach, NJ/Shore Regional), who directed her shot just to the right of the goal. The score remained locked at two as the first half came to an end.

The Colonels tried their best to push the action in the first period leading to nine offisides calls.

Wilkes had a pristine string of opportunities in the 73^rd minute when Towlen found herself in another one-on-zero with the Pacers keeper, forcing her to make a two diving saves sandwiched between a blocked shot off a Marywood defender s the score remained locked at two.

The Colonels again found themselves on the doorstep when Towlen crossed the ball from the right side, leading to a loose grouping fighting for it in front of the net before Karyna Vargas (Rahway, NJ/Rahway) found it at her feet resulting in a laser that beat the keeper but ricocheted off the crossbar in the 80^th minute.

Wilkes took its first lead in the 87^th minute when Jessica Egan (West Long Branch, NJ/Shore Regional) played a ball through the defense to soring Towlen who raced up the middle of the field and floated it over the keeper to send the bench and stands into a frenzy.

 Courtney Stanley (Yardville, NJ/Steinert) earned her first victory of the season.

The Colonels lead in shots 18-6 while holding a 9-2 advantage in shots on goal.

Wilkes returns to the pitch on Wednesday when it travels to William Paterson for a 7:00 p.m. non-conference matchup.